Important dates for the upcoming May 19 election that includes a local race for Jones County’s Board of Education chairman are coming up with the final day to register to vote in the election only days away.
Sample ballots for the election were made available April 6 and can be accessed on the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. Anyone who does not have online access to the site can request a sample ballot from the Jones County Elections Office located at the Government Center or by calling the office at 478-986-3222.
The last day to register to vote in the May 19 election is April 20. Registration can be completed online, mailed or filled out at the election’s office.
The only Jones County race on the ballot is for the position of chairman of the board of education. Incumbent Ginger Bailey is being challenged by Marilyn Norfleet. That race is non-partisan, which means the May 19 vote will determine the winner.
The Board of Education candidates are on all Jones County ballots for the May 19 election.
In addition to the candidates for the statewide offices who are on the ballot, that include governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general, U.S. House of Representatives District 8 has two Democratic candidates, Kelly Esti and Justin Lucas, competing to run against Republican Incumbent Austin Scott in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Five Republican candidates — Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, John Coyne III, Derek Dooley and Jon McColumn — are vying for the chance to oppose Incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in November.
Due to the number of candidates running for the statewide offices on both sides, getting a look at a sample ballot would be helpful. There are eight candidates on the Republican ballot for governor and seven candidates on the Democratic ballot. For lieutenant governor, there are seven candidates on the Republican ballot and three Democrats. The offices of secretary of state, attorney general and state school superintendent are also crowded fields. Jones County is represented in the State House of Representatives by either Dale Washburn, who represents District 144, or Floyd Griffin, who represents District 149, depending where in the county the voter resides.
Griffin, who is a Democrat, is opposed in the May primary by Ross Sheppard, and the winner of that primary will face Republican Randy Keith Peters in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Neither Washburn nor State Sen. Rick Williams have opposition in the Primary or General Election.
There is little doubt a runoff election will be needed with the number of candidates running. The date for the runoff for the primary election is June 16.
The first day to vote early in the May 19 election is April 27, and that is held in Jones County at the Elections Office at the Government Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information go to the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page or call the elections office at 478-986-3222.
